The Nioh 3 side missions list is far bigger than anything Team Ninja shipped before, and knowing which optional quests to prioritize can save you hours of grinding. Unlike the main story path, sub missions hand out Samurai Locks, Ninja Locks, and region-specific gear that dramatically smooth out the difficulty curve. Get the full breakdown of every side quest, its unlock condition, and the rewards worth chasing before you commit to another expedition. Before you commit to another expedition, though, it’s worth checking how the recommended challenge rating shifts across each region—our Nioh 3 Mission Levels breakdown maps the exact enemy scaling and suggested gear tier for every stage, so you can pair those Samurai or Ninja Locks with the right content and avoid walking into a fight that’s far above your current power.
Understanding the Nioh 3 Side Missions Structure
| Side Mission Type | Source | Unlock Condition | Notable Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept side missions | Eternal Rift NPCs | Talk to everyone at Eternal Rift | Level 62 equipment |
| Region side quests | Exploration Level | Increase a region's Exploration Level | Samurai Locks, Ninja Locks |
| High-difficulty side missions | Free update | Post-launch update | Rarer accessories, new skills |
| Temple-attached side quests | Kyoto temples (Bakumatsu era, 1864) | Discover points of interest in open areas | Journey through desolate environments |
Side quests in Nioh 3 function as the connective tissue between main story beats, offering bite-sized combat challenges, escort objectives, and boss rematches that test your mastery of specific mechanics. The game organizes these optional objectives by region, and each area typically features between four and seven sub missions that become available as you progress through the corresponding chapter. According to the IGN Things to Do First in Nioh 3 guide, completing certain side quests also grants Samurai and Ninja Locks, which are essential for unlocking hidden skill nodes on your character's progression tree.
What makes the Nioh 3 side missions list particularly interesting is how it rewards exploration. The game's larger, less linear zones hide optional combat challenges and quest-givers in corners you might otherwise skip. The Wikipedia entry for Nioh 3 confirms that players can discover points of interest where they find and complete side quests or optional combat challenges, which means a thorough sweep of each map often reveals missions that never appear on your quest log otherwise.
How Sub Missions Unlock
Most side quests unlock through a combination of main story progress and specific in-mission actions. Some require you to find a particular NPC during a main mission, while others appear only after you clear a region's primary boss. A handful of the toughest sub missions, like the Adept quests mentioned in the PowerPyx boss guide, become available when you fast travel to the Eternal Rift and talk to every NPC there. These Adept missions reward high-level equipment — around Level 62 gear — which makes them a priority for anyone pushing into the later chapters.
The unlock structure follows a predictable pattern across all regions:
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Region entry: Two to three side quests unlock immediately when you first arrive in a new area
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Post-boss unlocks: Defeating the region's main boss adds two or three more sub missions
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Hidden objectives: Finding all Kodama or completing specific in-mission tasks reveals secret side quests
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NG+ variants: New Game+ adds enhanced versions of existing sub missions with better rewards
Region Progression and Mission Tiers
Each region in Nioh 3 has its own difficulty rating, and the side missions scale alongside the main story. Early regions like Rajomon feature sub missions tuned for levels 10-20, while late-game areas push into the 80-100 range. The game also introduces a mission level recommendation system that tells you the suggested character level before you commit to a quest, which helps you avoid walking into a fight you are not ready for.
Best Side Quests for Gear and Progression
Not all side quests are created equal, and the Nioh 3 side missions list contains several standout objectives that deliver outsized rewards for the time invested. If you are working through the nioh 3 main missions walkthrough and hit a wall, these are the sub missions worth tackling first because they provide the gear and skill points needed to push forward.
The Adept side missions at the Eternal Rift deserve special attention because they reward Level 62 equipment that can carry you through multiple main story missions. According to community reports, these quests are tuned for players around level 55-60, and the gear they drop often comes with pre-set bonuses that outperform random drops from regular enemies. The Eurogamer coverage of Nioh 3 also mentions that a free update added high-difficulty side missions with rarer accessories and new skills, so the post-launch content expanded the side quest pool even further.
Top Priority Sub Missions
| Mission Name | Region | Unlock Condition | Key Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept: Wind's Edge | Eternal Rift | Talk to all NPCs at the Rift | Level 62 weapon + Samurai Lock |
| Six Jizo Shrine | Rajomon | Find the shrine in the poison swamp | Jizo charm + Kodama blessing |
| Kiyomizu Purge | Bakumatsu Kyoto | Clear main mission in the region | Rare accessory + Ninja Lock |
| Tengu's Wrath | Rajomon | Defeat the region's main boss | Wind-element weapon |
| Crucible: Spike Trial | Endgame | Unlock via secret mission chain | Exclusive armor set |
The Six Jizo Shrine quest in Rajomon is particularly notable because it teaches you the game's exploration logic. As detailed in the IGN Six Jizo Locations guide, you start from the Rajomon Suzaku Avenue Shrine, head north, and take a right at the main street facing the crucible. The poison swamp to the south contains a crab enemy, and the shrine itself sits behind it with a Kappa and donation box nearby. Completing this quest grants a Jizo charm that boosts your defenses against elemental attacks, which is invaluable for the region's boss fights.
Rewards Comparison Table
| Reward Type | Source | Value | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samurai Locks | Adept quests, exploration levels | Unlocks skill nodes | Build diversity |
| Ninja Locks | Specific sub missions | Unlocks ninjutsu skills | Stealth builds |
| Level 62 gear | Eternal Rift Adept missions | Endgame-ready stats | Late-game push |
| Rare accessories | Kiyomizu Purge line | Unique bonuses | Build optimization |
| Exclusive armor | Crucible trials | Set bonuses | NG+ content |
Hidden Sub Missions and Secret Quests
The Nioh 3 side missions list includes several hidden quests that never appear on your map until you trigger specific conditions. These secret sub missions often reward the game's most powerful equipment, and finding them requires a mix of exploration and careful attention to NPC dialogue. The game's larger explorable spaces hide these optional objectives in corners that reward thorough map sweeps.
One of the most notorious hidden quests involves the Kiyomizu temple complex in the Bakumatsu era. According to the Hardcore Gamer Kiyomizu collectible guide, the open areas in this timeline are massive, and each iconic Japanese temple has a large side quest attached that takes you through the desolate environments. These temple quests often require you to find all the Kodama, Chijiko, and Jizo collectibles in the area before the quest-giver appears, making them a test of both combat skill and exploration patience.
Triggering Secret Missions
The secret mission system in Nioh 3 works differently from previous entries. Instead of simply completing every side quest in a region, you often need to perform specific actions during main missions. For example, finding a hidden NPC during a story mission might unlock a side quest that takes you back to that same area with new objectives. The Crucible missions mentioned in the internal guide pool represent the game's endgame secret content, and they require you to complete a chain of increasingly difficult challenges to access.
Exploration Level Rewards
The Exploration Level system ties directly into side quest availability. As you explore each region, you earn exploration points that increase your level in that area. Reaching certain thresholds unlocks additional side quests and grants Samurai and Ninja Locks as rewards. This creates a positive feedback loop where thorough exploration of each map makes your character stronger and opens up more content.
Side Mission Strategies and Loadout Recommendations
Tackling the full Nioh 3 side missions list requires different loadouts depending on the quest type. Boss rematch missions demand high single-target damage, while escort missions require crowd control and survivability. The game's Stance system becomes crucial here because switching between high, mid, and low stances lets you adapt to different enemy patterns on the fly.
For the Adept missions at the Eternal Rift, community testing suggests bringing a weapon with water or lightning element because the enemies there have reduced resistance to those damage types. The bosses in these quests also have predictable attack patterns that punish over-aggression, so waiting for openings and punishing whiffs is the recommended approach. According to player reports, the Great Tengu boss in one of these missions uses wind magic and melee combos, which means equipping gear with wind resistance can make the fight significantly easier.
Loadout Priorities by Mission Type
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Boss rematches: High burst damage weapon + elemental talismans + defensive accessories
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Escort missions: Wide-sweeping weapon + healing items + crowd control skills
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Exploration quests: Balanced loadout + Kodama sensor + item drop rate boosts
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Timed challenges: Fast weapons + movement speed buffs + burst damage skills
Recommended Order for Optimal Progression
The smartest way to approach the Nioh 3 side missions walkthrough is to clear sub missions in a specific order that matches your character's power curve. Start with the quests that reward Samurai Locks early because they unlock skill nodes that make every subsequent fight easier. Then move to the Adept missions around level 55-60 for the Level 62 gear that carries you through the late game. Save the Crucible trials for NG+ when your build is fully realized.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I unlock all side missions in Nioh 3?
You unlock side missions by progressing through the main story, completing region-specific objectives, and finding hidden NPCs during missions. Some quests require you to reach certain Exploration Levels in each region, while others appear only after you defeat the area's main boss. The Adept missions at the Eternal Rift require talking to every NPC there.
What are the best rewards from the Nioh 3 side missions list?
The best rewards come from the Adept missions at the Eternal Rift, which grant Level 62 equipment with pre-set bonuses. Samurai and Ninja Locks from various sub missions unlock valuable skill nodes, while the Kiyomizu Purge quest line rewards rare accessories. The Crucible trials offer exclusive armor sets for endgame builds.
Are side missions worth doing in Nioh 3?
Yes, side missions are essential for staying competitive with the game's difficulty curve. They provide gear that matches or exceeds the main story rewards, plus Samurai and Ninja Locks that expand your build options. The Exploration Level system also rewards thorough map exploration with additional quests and skill points.
Do side missions carry over to New Game Plus?
Yes, all completed side missions carry over to New Game Plus, and enhanced versions of existing sub missions become available. These NG+ variants feature tougher enemies and better rewards, including rarer accessories and new skills from the free update. You can also replay any side mission at any time through the mission select menu.
What is the hardest side mission in Nioh 3?
The Crucible Spike Trial is the hardest side mission, stacking multiple boss fights with limited healing items. Adept missions at the Eternal Rift, especially Great Tengu, demand wind resistance gear and precise timing. These quests are tuned for post-story players, so complete the main campaign first.